2017 National Disaster Conference Convenes Today to Address Record Outbreak of Billion-Dollar Disasters

ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As California, Florida, Mexico City, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands begin recovery from deadly earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires, the nation's foremost voices in the disaster safety and resilience movement are gathering for the 2017 National Disaster Resilience Conference. The information-packed event begins today through October 27 in Atlanta and will examine how science, policy, and practice can better save lives and protect property in the face of mounting, billion-dollar disasters.

"We are bringing together some of the best minds in our movement at this critical time to rethink the way we approach disasters in the United States," said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. "Together, we must identify ways to overcome these extraordinary challenges and profoundly improve disaster outcomes. At the end of the conference we will outline a statement of priorities to mitigate the deaths, injuries, and destruction unfolding all too often in communities across the country."

Design professionals, emergency managers, financial services experts, futurists, housing experts, insurers, journalists, meteorologists, product manufacturers, risk communicators, scientists, social psychologists, and many others will share best practices, deliver research insights, lessons learned, and generate new collaborative opportunities to create more disaster-resilient buildings and communities.

The following leaders will serve as keynote speakers:

• Leo Abruzzese, Global Director of Public Policy, The Economist Intelligence Unit,
• W. Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator, (2009 ? 2017)
• Lt. General Russel L. Honoré, U.S. Army (Ret.)
• Dr. Rick Knabb, Hurricane Expert & Tropical Program Manager, The Weather Channel, National Hurricane Conference Director (2012 ? 2017)
• Dave Shull, CEO, The Weather Channel Television Network
• Wendy Spencer, President, Leadership Florida, and CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service (2012 ? 2016)

The full agenda includes leaders from BASF Corporation, DHS, FEMA, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm Insurance Companies, and USAA along with the American Institute of Architects, AIR Worldwide, DHS, Government Accountability Office, MIT, and The Weather Channel.

The conference presenters include the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) along with Applied Technology Council, Central United States Earthquake Consortium, National Fire Protection Association, National Hurricane Conference, National Weather Association, Southern California Earthquake Center, and the Western States Seismic Policy Council.

Conference sponsors include Titanium Sponsor International Code Council, Gold Sponsor BASF Corporation, Silver Sponsor USAA, Bronze Sponsor ISO, and General Sponsors American Institute of Architects, Comfort Block, ICFMA, Lehigh Hanson, Lightning Protection Institute, and Smart Vent.

Registration is available by clicking here, and complimentary media passes are available. For more information, email [email protected] or call (850) 385-7233 or (877) 221-SAFE today.

About FLASH

The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. The FLASH partnership includes more than 100 innovative and diverse organizations that share a vision of making America a more disaster-resilient nation including: BASF Corporation, FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot, Huber Engineered Woods, International Code Council, Kohler, Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, and USAA. In 2008, FLASH, and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and access free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org, calling toll-free (877) 221- SAFE (7233), following @federalalliance on Twitter, Facebook.com/federalalliance, and the FLASH blog ? Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)